The senior high school entrance exam for the 2022 - 2023 school year will take place on June 10 and 11. Till date, the preparation work has been basically completed. Final-year students at junior high schools have spent much time cramming for the test in back-to-back extra classes with the hope of a good performance in the pivotal assessment. With the exam is only 2 days away, students, for the time being, are taking a relaxing break prior to the exam, whilst teachers are focusing on giving them great encouragement, instructions and support.

Students at Le Do Junior High School, Son Tra District horn knowledge before the senior high school entrance exam. Photo: NGOC HA

The senior high school entrance exam, held every year around June for 9^th-grade students as well as independent candidates, acts as a standardised placement test for senior high schools in Viet Nam’s K-12 system. The senior high school level consists of 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades.

The exam is deemed pivotal for middle schoolers there, as it is still believed by Vietnamese parents that a slot at top schools is a golden ticket to future success. Students strive to grasp slot in public senior high schools.

Psychological support for students

Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Thoa, the Principal of Cam Le District-based Nguyen Van Linh Junior High School said that, over the past time, the school management board and teachers have made every effort to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge. These days, homeroom teachers regularly communicate with the would-be candidates via zalo, reminding them to consolidate their knowledge, in combination with reasonable entertainment.

“In order to ensure good health for the upcoming placement exam, students are advised to avoid participating in sports that may cause injury, ensure proper eating and sleeping and limit stresses as well”, said Ms. Thoa.

For students, this is an extremely important exam, especially in the context of going through 8th and 9th grades under the impacts of COVID-19.

As noted, these days, besides consolidating knowledge, students are also best mentally prepared, ready to take the exam.

Like many others, the parents of Luong Ngoc Tram, a 9th grader at the Son Tra District-located Le Do Junior High School have encouraged her to calmly enter the exam with great self confidence, pay attention to studying, eating and resting and being free from any life pressures.

Officials from the Da Nang Department of Education and Training check the preparation work at the exam site of Cam Le Senior High School. Photo: NGOC HA

Ensuring exam quality, ultimate safety for examinees

In order to prepare well for the forthcoming exam, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training has directed schools under its management to actively help their students enhance their test-taking skills, consolidating knowledge that they gained from online classes during the social distance period triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the safety of exam takers, relevant local agencies have assigned sufficient personnel, including medical workers and police officers, at the city-designated exam venues and develop a plan to ensure the smooth transportation and preservation of exam papers.

It is expected that about 180 police officers will be involved in ensuring the safety of the examinees and about 400 health care workers, security guards and other related employees will be present at exam venues.

For COVID-19 prevention and control, in addition to arranging disinfectant bottles and masks, 2 backup exam rooms exclusively for those suspected of contracting the disease are arranged at each exam venue

If a candidate in a test room is infected with COVID-19, all of the remaining exam takers must be subject to rapid tests for the disease. Those who are positive for the virus will be taken to a backup exam room to continue the exam.

Reporting by NGOC HA – Translating by A. THU